Unity in the Spirit

Open with prayer

Unity of Christians - loving Father, we come to you this afternoon with rendered hearts and an open mind. Please I beseech you that we enter into your presence with peace and harmony as you teach us the truths of unity in the spirit. May you open up our hearts and our ears to your truth, and bring us to a place where we can surrender our lives for this purpose, to reconcile your Saints to yourself and bring us nearer to you. Please teach us to get along with one another, to love one another and most important to love you with greater depth, with great expectancy and to know your word intimately without fear, holding onto the promise that you will enable us to run the race and to finish it. May we work out our salvation with fear and trembling totally dedicated to the cause of the Cross that your Bride Jesus would function together as one body, breaking down the walls of denomination and differences that we have. May the city of Albury-Wodonga bow the knee and proclaim that Jesus is LORD. Bring us revival and repentance to our city like nothing we have seen before, not just being fishers of men but also to bring life to discipleship and Pastoral care. Jesus you told Peter 3 times like you tell us that we ought to feed the flock. May we remember to acknowledge you in all of our endeavours with all that we are to totally bring Christ into our culture and community.

Psalm 133:1–3 ESV

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

It is indeed pleasant when we dwell in unity. I am sure that the Saints before us would be horrified to see the rebellion in the church regarding walls we have put up in the Church body today regarding doctrinal differences and denominations.

We need to know that Jesus is bringing forth His perfect Bride in the Earth today. How Jesus longs for intimacy with His Bride. We lift up your name Jesus and glorify your name. May we be peace makers, holding onto your WORD, that you have written through your servants. We know that you learnt obedience by the things that you suffered. Thank you that you became part of your own creation to show us how to live and to demonstrate your Kingship and authority over sickness and disease, ultimately authorizing your ministry by the thrust of your resurrection. You have done everything you need to do to bring us unto yourself. We lift our families and community to you that you would indeed bring them unto yourselves. We cannot do this in the flesh but if you give us the opportunity we will gratefully share your gospel with the lost, saving people from a multitude of sin, we will do your bidding and bring in the fish.​

John 17:20–21 ESV

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The Father is in Christ and Christ is in us through His Helper and personage of the Holy Ghost. It is true that we need to be one with Christ and that we believe in the written WORD of God in all it says to us as believers. Without the scriptures and the Inerrant written word, we would lack depth and live our own way. However, the morality and ethics of a Christian life is laid up before us. We will have no excuse on the day of judgement. Jesus has done what He needs to do now it is up to us to respond by propelling the good news to everyone that the LORD leads us to, breaking down strongholds, healing the sick, casting out devils and demonstrating the power and authority of God. The simple truth is we need each other. Fellowship is vital to hear from God through His Holy Spirit in that we prophesy and assist each other through the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

The Father I and the Father are one.”

God demonstrates His unity in the Godhead between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If God can do it and we are in Christ, how much more unified should we be? This is one of the great mysteries that God is a trilogy of three in one. The Holy Ghost came to bring us into oneness with Himself and with others. We need to work with each other, build each other up to listen and minister to one another using His gifts. There is no mistake that Faith, Hope and Love are epitomized by love and the most important of these qualities is love. Without love we are just noise like a loud gong. Love is patient and kind, not rude, willing to yield to our fellowship. When reviled the Holy Spirit does not revile back. He is a gentle Spirit and desires unity and obedience. We cannot do things our own way any more, Jesus has bought us at a great price and ownership belongs to Him. By responding to the gospel, we are yielding ourselves to God’s will, bringing resurrected life, one that adheres to the cause of Christ.

Christ with Christians​

Hebrews 2:11 ESV

For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Fellowship is precious to God. Sanctification erodes the flesh and brings us greater into Union with Christ. Through fellowship, we have the ability to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us through other people. By working with each other, we develop in our gifting and learn what function we have in the body. Christians need to stir up the gift in them to edify and develop people, equipping the Saints for the work of ministry. Jesus is not ashamed of us and He calls us brothers and sisters. We all have the one source and that is Christ, incarnate, the author of eternal life. Praise be to God who has set up His Church for the body, His bride. May we await for that great day when He comes to collect His Bride. May we all be alert and ready for that moment when the Saints will be raised and the true Sons of God will be identified.

Baptism​

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

This union between Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, rich and poor is amazing - we are all one in Christ Jesus. This is one of the great mysteries that Christ has revealed to His Saints. This Union through baptism, allows us to drink from the source of eternal life, through the Spirit of God. In the Old Covenant, God chose a special people, the Jews. However, through God’s redemptive plan, the life of God has become eternally available to every person in all cultures and stages of history. What a God we serve that gives life and life abundantly, who sets captivity to freedom and liberty, that brings joy to His Saints through the biggest event of history in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Union​

Ezekiel 37:16–24 ESV

“Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. ​

Believer’s Bible Commentary F. The Reunification of Israel and Judah (37:15–28)

Ezekiel was next commanded to take two sticks, one representing Judah and the other Israel. By holding them end to end, he joined them … into one stick. This meant that the two kingdoms, torn apart in the days of Rehoboam, would be reunited. One king (the Messiah) would reign over them, and they would be saved, cleansed, and restored. Friends, God wants all denominations to come together.​

This is a classic demonstration of bringing unity where there was once disunity. Jesus wants this for His Church. That the Church will become one - all denominations with people from distinct variations in character, under the one umbrella, worshiping the one true God in all three essences - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus will reign in His Church that He is coming for, therefore they will have the one true Shepherd. Kingdom people will obey all of Christ’s instruction on how to live, honouring their King forever and forever under the banner of Jehovah.

Faith​

Ephesians 4:4–6 ESV

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we lived like there was only one Father and one Lord, treating each other, despite our differences, with diligence and respect.

This is clear - there can only be one body, there is only one God and this God can only be accessed through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father. He is the way the truth and the life. How glorious our day will be when we unite with the true sons and daughters in the heavenly kingdom. We await the revelation of the true Saints of God. For those who are led by God’s Spirit are indeed the Children of God. Everything else will be as chaff and rubbish, counting for nothing. We ought to continue to set our hearts in Heaven, earning our treasure there, not for the here and now.

Mind​

Philippians 1:27 ESV

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

We need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling having a healthy fear of the LORD. Regardless of what we go through, if we stand firm in one spirit, having the mind of Christ to strive side by side for the cause of the gospel our LORD Jesus Christ has given for us, we will reap treasure in Heaven and look forward to His glorious appearing to take us home in the twinkle of an eye. We are assured that He will appear like a thief in the night so how much more we need to prepare for the 2nd Advent of Christ where there will be no more tears no more pain, no more suffering and we will be in our glorified state. How glorious that day will be.

Heart​

Acts 4:32 ESV

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

In ACTS, believers acted in one accord, giving everything they had to look after all believers and to propel the message of the gospel. Everything they had collectively were shared by the group. Isn’t it great to be able to share and be generous to those that do not have what we do. The LORD loves a cheerful giver and delights in a good steward of wealth.

Unity of Believers​

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

This confirms the unity of the Spirit. We are a container for God’s precious Holy Spirit and this makes us heirs of the Kingdom of God and the Bible actually says that we are Royalty! Vengeance is the LORDS and if anyone does you harm, they are doing it unto the LORD. That is why we are to rejoice when we go through unfavourable trials because it is GOD who is at work. When people persecute us or martyr us, they are entering into very dangerous grounds. They do not reject us, they reject Christ in us. We have been brought at a very high price so therefore God owns us and confides in us. We are ambassadors of Christ. Let us rejoice that we are counted worthy to partake of Kingdom principles and authority, having full charge of destroying the work of the enemy who comes to kill, steal and destroy.

Fellowship​

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

We are in a community of believers. We have communion together, we demonstrate the power and authority of God in each believer. Has God changed? Can God still heal? You bet He can and we will see devils cast out, laying on of hands to heal the Saints and we will experience great exploits for GOD. Each week, we have an opportunity to reel more people into our community of believers. The message is to repent, be baptized and proclaim the gospel. What a wonderful privilege to be counted worthy to be in Christ, to be a witness and to laugh at the World with all its schemes, making a public spectacle of the devil and his demons. Revival is coming!

 Mental Differences

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Many of Christ’s Apostles were not of the academic sort, especially when you consider worldly standards. However in God’s Kingdom, things are often upside down. People in great authority are often Christless in their living standards. Do we really want to be Chief Executive Officers or political leaders? Imagine the stress and the long hours and responsibility. That is not to say that such people are Christ-less but we are not to envy Worldly leadership as often God uses the weak to shame the wise and the strong. At the end of the day no-one can boast in themselves in the presence of God.

Let us pray

Loving Father and King of all, we beseech you to promote unity in your Holy Spirit. We have explored many themes this evening and I pray that this word will equip us in the many facets of Christ’s Kingdom that brings us together and not what drives us apart. We thank you that your Kingdom has room for even the most vehement sinner and we do not need to envy or to boast in ourselves. For it is your riches that you distribute to all your Saints and we are one in Christ Jesus, the one who rules Heaven’s estate. We need to strive to be peace makers and get along in this World, understanding that we are all part of your Heavenly Royal priesthood and we have a King that we can confide in whenever conflict may come.

Besides, you have suffered the most atrocious death on the Cross and you came to give direction to your Saints so that we may too walk in your Heavenly light, shining a path to those who are lost, to destroy Satan’s schemes of gravitating us to the World on the wide highway to Hell. May we cherish you in all your fullness, together with fellowship in the unity of the Spirit of Christ who is our helper and the lover of our soul. In this we pray that we walk in liberty in that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us now and forever more. AMEN!